The famous green tea from Japan, known as matcha, is currently going viral and is in cafes everywhere. Due to its popularity, matcha has evolved and now comes in many different flavors and tastes, some being more herbal and others sweeter.
Starbucks
Starbucks is an accessible place to grab an iced or hot matcha anywhere. Their regular matcha costs $5.45, with an additional $1.25 for matcha cold foam, which I recommend. The cold foam makes Starbucks’ matcha unique with a light and airy taste, although the upcharge is pricey. Even without the cold foam, their matcha is a great and simple matcha option.
In addition to their regular matcha, Starbucks’ seasonal spring matcha features lavender cold foam, with the same cold foam upcharge. When I ordered it, the drink arrived greenish-grey and looked very unappetizing. Despite the appearance, I am a huge fan of the lavender flavoring, which is very strong. I have been looking forward to this drink’s return all year, and the matcha itself did not disappoint.
Maman
The perfect spot for matcha with a cute cafe atmosphere in Bethesda is Maman, which offers a to-go or sit-down option. After sitting down, it took a while to order but the drinks arrived quickly afterwards. I ordered their regular iced matcha, but they also serve a lemon lavender iced matcha as their seasonal flavor for spring.
The matcha typically comes with oat milk, but can be changed upon request. At first sip, the taste was very herbal and needed to be mixed and sweetened. After adding the sweetener, the matcha was delicious and very smooth. Priced at $6.50 for a small, I found it to be a perfect size; however, it is a little pricey. Overall, the matcha needed a sweetener, but regardless, Maman is an adorable cafe setting for a quick stop.
Tatte
The famous cafe chain Tatte recently opened a location in Rockville in addition to their location in Bethesda. It has a classy and lively atmosphere, but is usually busy, making it challenging to find seating. They currently have three matcha items on the menu: a regular matcha latte, orange matcha soda sparkling matcha lemonade.
Their regular matcha comes with whole milk by default, but can be changed if preferred. The smallest size only costs $4.50 and is an easy, cheap matcha option. The matcha had a very herbal and somewhat bitter taste. Even after adding a sweetener, I still found the drink bland. Although it is a good earthy matcha option, it was not my favorite because I prefer a sweeter matcha.
Sunday Morning
Located only in Pike and Rose, Sunday Morning Bake House is a great local cafe-style option for matcha. However, it is usually more crowded, making it somewhat difficult to find seating.
They currently have a seasonal honey matcha available and a matcha-flavored croissant. The croissant was delicious, with a vibrant matcha filling and matcha powder sprinkled on top.
The honey matcha is the only matcha drink available. At $6 for 16oz, it is a reasonable price for its size. The honey flavor was not very distinct, but it made the matcha much sweeter. It had a very creamy taste and was super smooth. Overall, it was an excellent option for not only a matcha drink but also for matcha-flavored food.
Kyo Matcha
A great, relaxing cafe option in Rockville Town Square is Kyo Matcha. Not only do they sell matcha lattes, but they also sell matcha-flavored slushies, ice cream and cakes. Additionally, they have many matcha flavors, such as strawberry, brown sugar, white peach and more. The cost is $7 per latte, making it the most expensive matcha option.
The regular matcha latte had a very sweet and creamy taste. It did not taste like a regular herbal matcha, which I enjoyed. The strawberry flavor in the strawberry matcha was very strong, and additionally, I was surprised to find strawberry chunks inside. Both drinks were delicious, and Kyo Matcha is my favorite matcha option among all the other cafes.
